ID 4685 - Cysteina

PL: Cysteina
EN: Cystine
Pdf: L-cysteine

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituents that are the subject of the health claims are L-cysteine and L-methionine. L-methionine is an indispensable amino acid. L-cysteine can be synthesised from L-methionine and L-serine.
L-methionine and L-cysteine can be measured in foods by established methods.
The Panel assumes that the food constituents under evaluation are L-cysteine and L-methionine consumed in addition to adequate protein intakes.
The Panel considers that the food constituents, L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination, which are the subject of the health claims, are sufficiently characterised.

2.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 597, 4224, 4297, 4685, 4686)

The claimed effects are “hair and nails health”, “hair and nail resistance and growth”, “hair growth”, “healthy hair and nails by stabilising protein structure and aids in the formation of collagen”, and “hair health as supplier of sulphur”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal hair is a beneficial physiological effect.

2.2. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu paznokci (ID 597, 4224, 4685)

The claimed effects are “hair and nails health”, “hair and nail resistance and growth”, and “healthy hair and nails by stabilising protein structure and aids in the formation of collagen”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal nails is a beneficial physiological effect.

2.4. Udział w prawidłowym tworzeniu kolagenu (ID 4685)

The claimed effect is “healthy hair and nails by stabilising protein structure and aids in the formation of collagen”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The Panel considers that contribution to normal collagen formation is a beneficial physiological effect.

3.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu włosów (ID 597, 4224, 4297, 4685, 4686)

The references cited for the substantiation of the claimed effect included several reviews which did not contain any original data that could be used to substantiate the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect. Four human intervention studies investigated the effect of L-cystine supplementation in combination with other food constituents on hair loss. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from studies on fixed combinations for the substantiation of the claim on L-cysteine or L- methionine alone.
Some references dealt with a case report of an 8-year old L-methionine-deficient child with a hair disorder, the structural composition of human hair or outcomes unrelated to the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
Several animal studies dealt with the effects of L-cysteine or L-methionine intake alone or in combination with other constituents or of insufficient intake of L-cysteine or L-methionine on hair growth, hair structure or hair loss. One in vitro study looked at the reduction mechanism of L-cysteine on keratin fibres. The Panel considers that the evidence provided in animal and in vitro studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination on the maintenance of normal hair in humans.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination and maintenance of normal hair.

3.2. Utrzymanie prawidłowego stanu paznokci (ID 597, 4224, 4685)

Among the references cited for the substantiation of the claimed effect two dealt with the structural composition of the human nail. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
One animal study looked at nail growth in rats fed diets differing in available L-cysteine and L-methionine. The Panel considers that while effects shown in animal studies may be used as supportive evidence, human studies are required for the substantiation of a claim, and that the evidence provided in animal studies alone is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination on the maintenance of normal nails in humans.
The remaining references addressed outcomes unrelated to the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination and maintenance of normal nails.

3.4. Udział w prawidłowym tworzeniu kolagenu (ID 4685)

Six references were provided for the substantiation of the claimed effect. Two animal studies, one human study and one in vitro study were unrelated to the claimed effect. One reference was a website in which the claimed effect was not mentioned. One was an animal study examining the effect of an intramuscular administration of cysteine on collagen fibres. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of L-cysteine and L-methionine alone or in combination and contribution to normal collagen formation.

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